Castleford Academy achieves award for careers work​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Castleford Academy has recently been recognised for its outstanding careers work by being awarded the national Quality in Careers Standard by Prospects.  The national Quality in Careers Standard is awarded to schools and education providers who can demonstrate the importance they place on careers and how they support students to make decisions about their life after school.

Castleford Academy is an outstanding academy, continually working to improve the chances and opportunities of all students. Recognising the importance of preparing students for their future careers the school began working towards the national Quality in Careers Standard.

More than 1,100 schools and colleges are already voluntarily working towards or have achieved the national standard for careers. There is a statutory duty to ‘secure independent careers guidance’ for all students from Year 8 onwards and the Government also recommends that all schools should be required to work towards the national Quality in Careers Standard.

Achieving the national Quality in Careers Standard shows that the Headteacher, governors and leadership team at Castleford Academy embrace, promote and endorse quality careers education and recognise the part it plays in the overall success of the academy and its students. The academy offers a range of activities to introduce students to the world of work and help them make decisions about life after school. We annually celebrate National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers week, with every year group from Y7 – Y13 exploring future opportunities for further education and employment through either a subject activity, attending our careers fair or visiting a university. Our 4-year Burberry Inspire project also engages and enthuses pupils to discover and build on creative skills. In addition, the project ensures pupils can see where careers in the arts can take them. On a daily basis, pupils build and improve their character skills in every lesson and understand that these skills are transferrable to the world of work. 

George Panayiotou, Headteacher said: “We are thrilled to have achieved the national Quality in Careers Standard awarded by Prospects. We recognise the important role school plays in helping students develop their knowledge, skills and experience so they can go out into the world and achieve personal success. This award has provided a flexible framework that enabled us to audit our work on careers and ensure our students are receiving advice, practical support and experience so they are prepared for the next stage of their education, employment, self-employment or training.”

Delighted Chair of Governors, John McNichol commented ‘The Governing Body recognise the importance of pupils being able to achieve their aspirations.  Effective careers guidance is essential to this and we are proud and pleased that our careers service has been recognised by this Gold Standard National Quality in Careers Award’.